Apparatus for producing gas.



No. a2-91518. PATENTED AUG. 28, 1906. W. A. POURNBSS. APPARATUS POR PRODUGING GAS.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.27. 1905.

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PATENT-ED AUG. 28, 1906.

W. A. PGURNESS. APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING GAS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27. 1905.

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No. 329,518. PATBNTBD AUG. 2a, 1906.

` W. A. PoURNBjss.

APPARATUS FOR PROUUGING GAS.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 27. 1905.

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'UNITED sTATEs iaTENT oEErcE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 28, 1906.

Application filed September 27, 1905. Serial No. 280,286.

To (LZZ whom it may con/cern:

Be it known that I, WALTER A. FoURNEss, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Producing Gas, o which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to the manufacture of water-gas or carbureted water-gas; and it consists in certain novel improvements embodied in an apparatus hereinafter described. These im rovements include- First. n combination with a gas-generator a retort and a casing having a chamber inclosing said retort, a single device whereby the water-gas from said generator may be d1- verted into the retort and the producer-gas diverted into the casing-chamber. The said device is also preferably constructed so that on opening the passage leading from encrator to retort it closes simultaneously t e passage leading from generator to retort-casing and vice versa.

Second. The specific construction of said diverting device 1s in the form of a movable valve which normally closes the passage leading to the casing-chamber by its own gravity which may be retained in position to close either passage and which is so arranged as not to e liable to stick or become clogged.

Third. The expelling of nitrogen and other impure gas from the to of the generator or from a collecting-cham er there located by means of a steam-jet, while at the same time the escape of wateras from the generator at the outlet rovided or said water-gas is prevented. n this way the nitrogen is kept from mixing with and adulterating the water-gas.

Fourth. The admission of oil-jets into the generator and to the first retort of a series of said retorts, thereby dividing the carbureting material between them and in this Way preventing the carbonization of an excess of oil in the generator and the carrying over of oil from the retort into the condenser, scrubber, or hydraulic main and also insuring the complete decomposition of the oil in the retorts by reason of its passage through them successively.

Fifth. The various combinations and instrumentalities more particularly set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my apparatus, showing in section the Walls of the casing-chamber inclosing the retorts. Fig. -2 is a vertical longitudinal section showing the generator 1 in elevation. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section onthe line a: of Fig. 1. Fi 4 is a vertical section of valve-chamber 4 with its valve and adjacent parts. Figs. 5 and 6 are sections i showing in detail the device for raising -a controlling-valve and for holding the valve in adjusted position.

Similar numbers of reference indicate like parts.

For convenience the gas which results from the blowing of air through the fuel in the generator is hereinafter termed producer-gas and the gas which results from the blowing of steam through said fuel is hereinafter termed water-gas.

Water-gas in my present apparatus is converted into carbureted water-gas or, as it is sometimes termed, oil and Water gas by introduoing oil into both generator and retort, as explained farther on. As my apparatus is here illustrated there are two enerators, one of which makes water-gas, whi e the other makes producer-gas, the water-gas going to retorts and the producer-gas going to a casingchamber containing said retorts; but either generator may be used independently of the other, and this because there is provided at the as-outlet of each generator the aforesaid sing e device, whereby during the making of producer-gas by that generator said roducer-gas may be diverted into the casingchamber to heat the retort and whereby during the subsequent production of water-gas said water-gas may be diverted into the retort for fixing or carburcting.

The generators which are shown at 1 and 2 are of the usual construction, lined with fire-brick, and provided with gratos and ashpits. The gas-conveying pipe 3 of generator 1 communicates with a valve-chamber 4 in the vertical pipe 5, and the gas-conveying pipe 6 of generator 2 communicates with a valve-chamber 7 in the vertical pipe 8. Above the valve-chambers 4 and 7 the pipes 5 and 8 are connected by a horizontal pipe 9. The vertical pi e 5 extends above the valvechamber 4. an is closed on top. It communicates by pipe 10 with a vertical pipe 11, closed above and connected at its lower end to one extremity of the u )perinost member of a bank of three parallel retorts 12 13 14. The other end of the highest retort 12 is connected to the corresponding end of the next retort 13 and the farther extremity of retort 13 is connected to the corresponding extreiiiity of retort 14. Retort 14 is connected by pipe 15 (dotted lines, Figs. 1 and 2) with the lowermost of another and similar bank of three retorts 16 17 18, which communicate with one another in the manner already described in connection with retorts 12 13 14, and, finally, the uppermost retort 18 communicates at one end with the vertical pipe 19. By reason of this construction the gas entering the retorts passes in alternately opiosite directions downwardly through the iirst bank of retorts 12 13 14 and then in like manner upwardly through the secondbank of retorts 16 17 18 to pipe 19 and thence to the sealot 20, and so to outletipe 21, shown bro en oli in Fig. 2. T `e two banks of retorts are respectively contained in chambers 23 24, located in the lire-brick casing 25 and se arated by a partition 26. In the bottom o said chambers and below the retorts 14 16 are horizontal partitions 27 28, having vertical channels extending through them. Similar partitions are disposed in said chambers between the retorts and also above the upper retorts 12 and 18. The partition 26 extends down and across the outlet-flue 29, with which flue the vertical pipes 5 and 8 communicate. it Will be obvious, therefore, that there is a free channel from the pi es 5 and 8 to the flue 29, thence upward in t e chamber 23 through the channels in partitions 27 and the spaces surrounding the retorts 12 13 14, thence through the open-ing 3() in partition 26 to chamber 24, and so downwardly through the channels in partitions 28 and spaces surrounding retorts 18, 17, and 16, and then to the outlet of flue 29 on the other side `ot partition 26.

It will be obvious that Jr'rom the outlet of each generator two gaspassages lead, res ectively, to the retorts and to the casingc iainbers 23 and 24 inclosing said retorts. In order to divert the producer-gas from the enerator into the passage leading to chambers 23 24 and the water-gas into the passage leading to the retorts as these gases are successively produced, I provide in each of the valve-chanibers 4 and 7 a double controllin -valve 31 32. The two valves 31 32 are ali re and arran ed in the same way, so that a description o one will apply to both. Referring to Fig. 4, `it will be seen that the valve 31 has an upper convexity 33 and a `lower convexity 34, separated by a V-shaped roove. B means of a llug on its upper side it is pivote to the endiof a rod 35. Said rod, as shown in Figs. 5 and v6, extends upwardly through a standard 36 and at its upper plortion has a rack-bar 37, the teeth of whic engage with a pinion 38, journaled in said standard. The valve 31 by its own gravity normally seats its lower convexity in the bottom of its chamber, and thus closes the passage leading to the casin chambers 23 24. lt may be raised or gra ual'ly lowered when desired by rotating said pinion 38 by means of the hand-wheel 39, and it may be held or clamped in either raised oi' lowered position 'oy means of the claiiiping-cairi 70, pivoted on standard 3G, which cam by lever 71 may be jammed against the rack-bar 37. When the valve is iii its uppermost position, its up ier conveXity 33, as shown iii Fig. 4,is seate in the upper part of the valve-chamber, and thus closes the passage leading from the generator to the retorts. When it is iii its lowerinost position, the passage to the casing-chambers 23 24 is, as stated, closed. Therefore by this single device l am enabled to divert the water-gas coming from the generator to the retorts and the producer-gas coming from the generator to the said inclosing chambers and to close the passage leading to the retorts at the same time as the passage leadin to the inclosing chambers is opened, and vice versa. ln this way l obviate all dan er oi" admitting producer-gas, which is usiia ly a iame, into the retorts or permitting water-gas to flow into the highlyheated casing-chambers. This danger results in disastrous explosions. lt is always present when two separate valves vare employed, one controlling the passage to the retorts and the other to the casing-chambers. It may be caused by carelessness on the part of the attendant in not properly operating the valves or the accidental sticking or failure to work of one valve or the other.

Especial attention is called to the fact that the valve is not in frictional contact with anything during its travel from seat to seat, but is widely separated from the adjacent walls, and this is also true of its rod which asses upward through the large passage eading to the retorts. Ot course said rod may go through any suitable stuinO-box 72 in passin through the up er wall of the passage; ut this box is so ar distant from the generator and valve-chamber that there is no danger of any overheating and binding of the rod from this cause. Furthermore, said assage is traversed only by water-gas, whic as is well known, is of much lower temperature than roducer-gas. inasmuch as there is a like va ve provided for each generator 1 and 2, it is possible to adjust one valve in one position and the other in the other position, as shown in Fig. 3, so that while the producer-gas from one generator is passing around the retorts to heat them the water-gas from the other generator is passing through said retorts; but it is particularly to be noticed that each generator has connection with both retorts and retortcasing, so that iii case one generator should become injured or for any cause be thrown out of operation it is possible to continue gas-makin with the other generator. In such case t e valve of that generator would first be adjusted to divert producer-gas into IOO the casing-chambers to heat them and then shifted to divert water-gas into the retorts until the chambers again require heating, these operations continuing alternately.

While producer-gas is being made nitrogen and other impure gases are also generated, which should not be allowed to mingle with the Water-gas. In order to get rid of such impure gas, I provide the following construetion: On top of each generator and above the main gas-escape outlet is a dome or gascollecting chamber 40 41. Said domes are provided with detachable covers 42 43 with clamping-bars 44. The two domes are connected by a pipe 45, which at its middle portion communicates with a vertical pipe 46, Fi 2, which is turned to extend throu h the Wa l of and enter the flue 29. On eac side of the pipe 46 are valves 47 48. By suitably mani ulating the valves 47 48 the nitro en or ot er impure gas which rises into and ecomes trapped in said domes 4() 41 or either of them, may be led through the pipe 46 directly into the flue 29, said pipe 46 thus forming a by-pass around the main gasescape outlet. At'the bottom of each generator are pipes 49 50, which communicate with a source of air-blast (not here shown) and serve to introduce said blast into said enerators, as usual, below the grates. Said last apparatus may also communicate with a pipe 51, which extends into the chamber 23 surrounding the first bank of retorts. In the upper part of the pipe 11 is a rose-nozzle 52, which communicates with a ipe 53, leading from any suitable source o oil-supply. A valve 54 is arranged in pipe 53 for regulating the iow of said oil to said nozzle and is itself controlled by the hand-wheel 55. This oilflow is preferably kept up continuously during the operation of the apparatus. Oil is also introduced intermittently into the generators by pipe 58, which leads it through an annular chamber 56, surrounding the valve-chamber, and thence by pipe 59 to a branch pipe connecting with nozzles 60, which communicate with the generator at the upper part thereof. The nozzles 60 are provided with regulating-valves 61, and a control-valve 62 is arranged in ipe 59 and operated by hand-wheel 63. ldjy this construction I divide the oil used for carbureting the wateras between the generator and the retort anv am enabled to control accurately the relative proportions of said oil delivered to each. Where all the oil is delivered to the generator, a portion is apt to become carbonized and notvaporized. Where all is delivered to the retorts, a portion is apt to be carried over in liquid state by the gascurrent to the condenser, scrubber, or hy-. draulic main. Where the oil is delivered by numerous pipes into each of the retorts, it is apt not to become completely decomposed. This complete decomposition is secured when the oil is led into the first retort of a series of retorts and is thus caused to pass successively through all of them.

Steam is delivered into the bottom of the generator for the roduotion of water-gas. The annular cham er 57, surrounding the main controlling valve-chamber, communicates by pi e 64 with any suitable source of steam-supp y and by )ipe 65 with the ashpit of the generator. n pipe 64 is a regulating-valve 66, operated by the hand-Wheel 67. A manhole rovided with cover 68 is arranged in sea -p'ot 2() to allow access to the interior.

The operation of the apparatus is as fol lows: Fires are started on the grates of both generators. The covers of the domes being removed, coal, coke, or combustible matter is charged in proper quantity into said generators and the covers replaced and clamped down. The air-blast through pipes 49 and 50 is started. Both controlling-valves are raised to their upper seats. The producer-gas from both generators then passes to pipes 5 and 8 and through the chambers 23 and 24 around the retorts. Supplementary blast is also admitted to their chambers through pipe 51. The fuel in the generators is thus raised to proper temperature and the retorts are heated. Oil-va ve 54 being opened, a part of the oil for carbonization is admitted to the retorts in'ithe form of fine s raythrough nozzle 52. Blast is now cut o from one of the generators, as generator 1, Fi 2. The nitrogen and impure gases which Iiave risen above the main outlet are now trap ed in the gas-collecting dome. The control ing-valve 31 is still raised to shut off the passage to the retorts. Valve 65 in steam-pipe 64 is opened by hand-wheel 67, and steam superheated by passage through the annular chamber 57 then passes by ipe 65 to the lower part of the generator. t the same time valve 4S in pipe 45, leading from the dome of generator 1, is opened. The steam rising through the fuel forces the nitrogen and impure gas trap ed in the dome out through the ipe 46, an so to outlet-Hue 29. As the cubic contents of the space in the dome and generator above the main escape-outlet in which the impure ases are trap ed is small, this expulsion o the gases ta (es place very quickly, so that the controlling-valve 31 may be almost immediatel f shiftedv to its lowermost position to cut ofib the passage leading to the casing-chambers and open the passage leading to the retorts, into which the water-gas now beinggenerated flows. Valve 48 is now closed and the generator is ready to receive its proportion of the carbureting-oil. Valve 62 being opened, oil enters the generator by ipe 59 and ind jector 61 above the fuel. he carbureted water-gas then mixes with and is enriched by the oil-gas made in the retorts, and from the retorts fixed carbureted watergas then IOO IIC

goes to the holder or any desired. intermeiate apparatus. In the meantime the producer-gas from enerator 2 is passing around the retorts. en generator 1 becomes too cold to make good gas-that is, to pro erly decompose the steam and vaporize the oi -its oil-supply is shut off; but the inlet of steam is continued for about three-quarters of a minute, so as to drive out all of the good gas, which would be Wasted if the oil and steam were shut 0E simultaneously. Lastly, the steam-supply is shut oii1 the valve 31 brought back to its uppermost position, as in Fig. 2, the air-blast is turned on, and producer-gas made and used to heat the retorts until all the fuel is consumed. While this is going on the second generator is set in operation to produce Water-gas in the manner already described. The two generators are thus used alternately.

I claimif `l. In combination with a generator for making water-gas and producer-gas, a retort and a casing having a chamber containing said retort, passages connecting said generator with said chamber and said retort and a device `operating by a single movement to divert the producer-gas from said generator to the passage leading to said casingchamber or the water-gas from said generator `to the passage leading to said retort.

2. In combination with a generator for making Water-gas and producer-gas, a retort, and a casing having a chamber containing said retort, passa es respectively connecting said generator wit said chamber and said retort, and a valve operating by a single movement to `open one passage and close the other.

3. In combination with a generator for making water-gas-and producer-gas, a retort, and a casing having a chamber containing said retort, a valve-chamber communicating with the gas-outlet of said generator, passages respectively connecting said valve-chamber with said casing-chamber and said retort and a valve movable in said valve-chamber and operating by a sin le movement to open one passage and close t e other.

4. In combination with a generator for making Water-gas and producer-gas, a retort and a casing aving a chamber containing said retort, a valve-chamber communicating With the gas-outlet of said generator,passa es res ectively connecting said valve-cham er wit said retort and said casing-chamber, valve-seats in said valve-chamber at the entrance of said passages and a movable valve in said chamber constructed to enter either seat.

sages respectively connecting said va vechamber with said retort and said casingchamber, valve-seats at opposite sides of said valve-chamber at the entrance of said passages and a movable valve in said valve-chamber constructed to enter either seat.

G. In combination with a generator for making Water-gas and producer-gas, a retort and a casing having a chamber containing said retort, a valve-chamber communicating with the gas-outlet of said generator, assages respectively connecting said va vechamber with said retort and said casingchamber, valve-seats in the upper and lower Walls of said chamber at the entrance of said passages and a valve in said chamber vertically movable to enter either seat.

7. In combination with a generator for making Water-gas and producer-gas, a retort and a casing having a chamber containing said retort, passages respectively connecting said generator with said chamber and said retort, a movable valve having opposite conveX faces and correspondingly-formed seats for said valve at the entrance of said passages.

8. In combination With a gas-generator for making Water-gas and producer-gas, a retort and a casing having a chamber containing said retort, and passages respectively connecting said generator to said retort and said casing, a movable gravitating valve constructed normally to open one passage and close the other.

9. In combination with a gas-generator for making water-gas and producer-gas, a retort and a casing having a chamber containing said retort, and passages respectively connecting said generator to said retort and said casing, a movable ravitating valve constructed normally to c ose the passage leading to said casing-chamber.

10. In combination with a gas-generator for making Water-gas and producer-gas, a retort and a casing having a chamber containing said retort, and passages respectively connecting said generator to said retort and said casing, a movable valve operating by a single movement to close one passage and open the other and means for mechanically holding said valve in either position.

11. In combination with a gas-generator for making Water-gas and producer-gas, a retort and a casing having a chamber containing said retort, and passages respectively connecting said generator to said retort and said casing, a valve movable by gravity to close one passage and open the other and means for raising said valve.

l2. In combination with a gas-generator for making Water-gas and producer-gas, a retort and a casing having a chamber contam- .ing said retort, and passages respectively connecting said generator to said retort and said casing, a valve movable by gravity to close one passage and open the other, means IOO lIO

`for raising said valve to close the aforesaid opened passage and means for holding said valve in raise position.

13. In combination with a gas-generator, a retort, a heating-chamber for said retort, means for conducting water-gas and produoer-gas from said generator respectively to said retort and heating-chamber, means for admitting a steam-jet below the fuel-space in said generator and means, independent of said means for conducting water and producer gas and communicating with the generator above said fuel-space, for conducting nitrogen or other impure gas expelled by said steam-jet from said generator to said heatingchamber.

14. A gas-generator for making water-gas and producer-gas having a charging-opening and a single escape-opening 'for both watergas and producer-gas, a duct cominunicatin with said escape-opening, a valve in sai( duct disposed 1n proximity to said escapeopening, a conduit independent of said charging-opening communicating with said generator above said escape-opening and means i for opening and closing said conduit.

15. A gas-generator for making water-gas and produeer-gas, having a single escape-outlet for both water-gas and producer-gas7 a controlling-valve therefor, a dome disposed above said generator and having a fuelcharging opening, a conduit independent of said charging-opening leadin from said dome and means for opening an closing said conduit.

16. The combination of a generator for making water-gas and producer-gas, having a charging-opening in its upper wall, a single escape-outlet for both watergas and producer-gas in its side wall and a valve controlling said gas-outlet, a conduit communicating with said generator below said chargingopening and above said gas-escape outlet and means for opening and closing said conduit.

17. The combination of (l) a gas-generator, for making water-gas and producer-gas, having a charging opening in its upper portion,. a single escape-outlet for both watergas and producer-gas and a controlling-valve therefor; (2) a heating-chamber receiving producer-gas from said generator; (3) a conduit connecting said generator above said outlet and below said charging-opening with said heating-chamber and moans for opening and closing said conduit.

18. Iii combination with a generator for making water-gas and producer-gas, having a main escape-outlet and a chamber above said outlet, a retort and a casing having a chamber containing said retort, passages leading from said generator respectively to said retort and said chamber-casing and a valve constructed to control said passages, a separate conduit connecting said generatorchamber with said casing-chamber, and' means for opening and closing said conduit.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALTER A. FOURNESS.

Witnesses:

WM. H. SIEGMAN, PARK BENJAMIN, Jr. 

